Vacuum cleaner



Jan. 26, 1932. L, E L 1,842,900

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Feb. 28-41930 If; ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vacuum cranium ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HEISSUED Application fled February 28, 1930, Serial 110.43%185, and in Germany lay 16, 1929.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and like devices employing a current of air a and o crating to clean materials and/or treat air. ore particularly the invention relates to vacuum cleaners and like apparatus employing an air conditioning substance'such as a disinfectant or insecticide and'still more particularly to such apparatus comprising,

in combination with other parts thereof, a- 10 receptacle for vaporizable material and to mechanism for detachably mounting this receptacle in the air stream of the cleaner. The invention provides for using a vacuum cleaner for disinfecting, insecticidal and perfuming purposes by incorporating a vapor having suitable characteristics in the air stream produced by the cleaner, the receptacle being so constructed and so positioned that vapors are efliciently adsorbed by the air stream. The receptacle, which in itself constitutes one base of the invention, is constructed so that 1t may be mounted in the cleaner unit with a minimum alteration thereof and may be readily removed and stored while the cleaner is operated for usual cleaning purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide means forefiiciently applying vapors to the air current of the vacuum cleaner.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide a detachable receptacle for vaporizable material which is adapted to be applied to.a vacuum cleaner in a-convenient and simple manner to incorporate means in the receptacle to cause the air current therein to agitate and thoroughly permeate the contents thereof; to provide means for heating the air before it is applied to'the receptacle; to provide a material having a low surface tension whereby the vapors therefrom may be readily ad- 40 sorbed in an air stream; to provide a container for said material in which the material may be transported and which is suitable for attachment to a vacuum cleaner whereby the necessity for handling the material is eliminated; to provide a container which may be sealed during shipment to prevent exces-' sive vaporization of the material contained therein. the seal to be readily removable before the container is attached to the vacuum cleaner; to provide a-,device of the above character which may be a plied to either the suctlon or blower ports 0 a vacuum cleaner; and to provide-a relatively simple, dependable, highly eflicient and convenient device for the purpose above indicated.

The invention also consists in certain other new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to e characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages the mode of'its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which Fig. 1 is an assembly view principally in cross-section of a vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention; Flg. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupling and receptacle; Fig. 3 is a trans verse sectional view of the rece tacle taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an end view of the container showing a portion of the cleaner associated therewith.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the state of the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, there is shown a vacuum cleaner unit having a barrel 10, to the ends of which are secured bell 11 and housing 12. Housing 12 contains a blower 8 and driving motor 9 by which the cleaner is operated to produce a current of air in the direction of the arrows. Runners 13, which are secured to the ends of barrel 10, provide means for supporting the cleaner on a surface. Handle 14 is suitably connected to the cleaner to permit the same to be readily handled. A dust bag 7 is recmovably contained in the barrel 10,"clamps being provided for releasing bell 11 to remove the du st bag. There is also a filter 6 through which all the air must pass, this filter serving to separate out certain impurities.

Bell 11 and housing 12 are formed with similar central openings or ports 15 and 16, respectively, which are internally threaded to receive a coupling 17. Coupling 17 is formed with an internal bore 18 which is adapted to receive the tapered end 19 of a flexible air hose 20 of conventional construction. By screwing coupling 17 into bell 11 and inserting the air hose therein, the device may be used to suck air, as in cleaning oarpets. By screwing coupling 17 into housing 12 and inserting the air hose therein, the device may be used as a blower.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the receptacle is shown as comprising a wall formed from a strip of flexible material such as tin plate, cardboard or similar material one end of which is provided with perforations 26. The other end is bent to overlap these perforations-and forms a guiding vane 27 for the purpose to be described. Bottom 28 may be secured to side wall 25 in any conventional manner. Said side wall is extended inwardly at the top of said receptacle to form annular flange 30 in which a perforated cover 31 is seated and secured by a frictional engagement. The edges of cover 31 may be formed with a slight groove 32 to facilitate attachment thereof to flange 30 and to form a more rigid assembly. It is to be noted that the cover may be removed by springing grooves past flange 3O may he applied merely by the application of pics The receptacle is posi d during use in a compartment formed between coupling 17 and the stationary portion of the vacuum cleaner. For this purpose a spider l1 is attached adjacent opening 16 of housing 12. This spider is of concave form and is adapted to receive bottom 28 of the receptacle and to position the same with respect to housing 12. Coupling 17 is formed with a suitable recess 35 to receive the receptacle and is provided with an annular groove 36 against which the receptacle is securely seated when the parts are in assembled position. Annular flange 37 extends to a point adjacent cover 31 of the receptacle and directs air currents therefrom into the tapered end 19 of the air hose. Shoulder 40 contacts with housing 12 to form a seal when the coupling is used without the receptacle in normal cleaning operations.

In using the above described device for in-- corporating a vapor in the air stream of the cleaner, it is preferable to employ a material having a low surfacetension so that the material is readily vaporized when an air current is passed over the surface thereof. The

tals may be employed. Bornyl acetate is an example of a readily vaporizable perfume. While it is preferable to use finely divided solid materials such as the crystals above mentioned, it is obvious that other types of disinfectants, germicides or perfumes may be employed, such as gaseous or liquid materials, adsorbed in a solid, for example, infusorial v earth.

inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 be-- fore the device isoperated.

To assemble the elements the seal is removed from the receptacle which is inserted in opening 16 of housing 12 and positioned against spider 41. Coupling 17 is then placed in position and the receptacle is clamped between annular recess 36 of the coupling and spider 41 so that all movement of the receptacle is prevented. The coupling is designed so that a slight clearance is obtained between shoulder 10 thereof and the housing 12 when the receptacle is in position, whereby the rcceptacle may be securely gripped between the elements above mentioned.

fil hen the cleaner is operated the air stream therein passes through the dust bag and over the driving motor and then passes through perforations into the, receptacle, from which it is discharged through the perforations in cover 31. The air entering the receptacle is caused to rapidly whirl, due to the action of vane 27. Sufficient rotary motion may be obtained to agitate the particles of material in the receptacle and to effect a thorough contact with all parts of the surface thereof. The motion of the air and particles in the receptacle is parallel to the surface of cover 31. Hence the tendency of the particles to become lodged in the perforations is reduced to a minimum. The air becomes heated in passing over the motor and is applied to the receptacle in a heated condition, thereby imparting heat to the surface of-the material within the receptacle and accelerating the vaporization thereof. The vapor is picked up and absorbed by the air current and is carried therewith through air hose 20 and discharged therefrom. This vapor laden air may be used for the various purposes above mentioned, depending upon the particular material employed in the receptacle, and may be conveniently directed by the air hose upon the desired objects. I

Annular recess 36, which seats against the receptacle, prevents passage of air around the sides of said receptacle and causes all of the air from the device to pass through the recep tacle before being applied to the air hose.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

' What is claimed is:

1 A. receptacle for vaporizablematerial comprising a substantially cylindrical element having a peripheral vane, an air inlet adjacent said vane, and an axial air outlet, said peripheralvane causing the airto Whirl in said receptacle and to agitate the material therein.

2. A receptacle comprising a substantially cylindrical element having peripheral perforations, and a guiding vane mounted adjacent said perforations for directing the air current within said receptacle, said receptacle having an axial air outlet.

3. A receptacle of substantially cylindrical form having peripheral perforations, a guiding vane mounted therein adjacent said perforations and in a position to cause the air to whirl within said receptacle, one end of said receptacle being perforated to permit escape of air therefrom.

4. A receptacle comprising a substantially cylindrical wall formed from a flexible material, said wall being extended inwardlyof said receptacle to form a guiding vane, the portion of said wall adjacent said vane having perforations for'the admission of air,

. said vane serving to direct the air interiorly thereof and cause the same to agitate the con tents of said receptacle.

5. In a vacuum cleaner having an exhaust port, a coupling member for normally connecting an air hose thereto, and a receptacle for vaporizable material, said cleaner and said coupling member forming a recess for receiving said receptacle.

6. In a vacuum cleaner having an exhaust port, a coupling membernfor connecting an air hose thereto, said coupling member having a recess, a container adapted to seat within said recess, and means for clamping said container between said coupling member and the housing of said vacuum cleaner.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having an" air port, a coupling member adapted to seat in said port, a circular container adapted to be mserted in 'said port, and means for clamping said container between said coupling member and a stationary part of said cleaner.

8. In a vacuum cleaner having an air port and a coupling member therefor, a cylindncal container having peripheral perforations, an air vane mounted interiorly thereof adjacent said perforations, one end ofsaid container having perforations, means for seating said container in said port within said coupling member, said arrangement permitting a receptacle containing insecticide of the class comprising para-dichlorobenzol and para-dibromobenzol crystals, means for mounting said receptacle within said cleaner, an air vane in said receptacle causing the air to whirl in the receptacle and to agitate the insecticide therein, means for passin an air stream therethrough, and means for eating said stream before applying the same to said receptacle whereby the vaporization of said crystals is accelerated.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

LABS ELL. 

